File spoon-archives/aut-op-sy.archive/aut-op-sy_2001/aut-op-sy.0106, message 444


Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 08:48:11 -0400
From: Louis Proyect <lnp3-AT-panix.com>
Subject: Re: AUT: Hardt-Negri's "Empire": a Marxist critique, part two


Mr. Mandarani, please use plain text when sending out email. You are using
"styled text" which makes it difficult to use the "reply" function. In any
case, let me answer you.

louis, 

as far as i can see, N&H are actively critiquing marx's claim that the rest 
of the world (the 'developing' world) should follow the path of western 
development which he argued in his india articles and elsewhere prior to
1878. 

RESPONSE: This is your interpretation. I can't imagine what in their actual
book inspired you to reach such a conclusion.

as for supporting anti-colonial struggles, they say that they serve 
"important progressive functions" (p132). that does not mean that such 
struggles do not all too often result in a new form of submission. with such 
a new regime of dominion what is revealed is a "first glimpse of the passage 
to Empire" (p134). 

RESPONSE: I know they say this. But since they are not engaged with the
real history of real people, this becomes an empty slogan like the Who song
"Won't get fooled again" or the Beatles "So you want a revolution".

In other words, they are not arguing against the historical importance of 
such struggles, they are just arguing following the establishment of empire 
over the last 30-40years, struggles must set their demands differently from 
when colonialism was the dominant regime of capital. 

RESPONSE: Right, they argue for a model like the IWW. So instead of going
back 30 or 40 years to analyze Cuba's success, we should go back 100 years
and emulate wobbly failure.

you seem to be generalising a point which is directed at a particular 
historical conjuncture (i.e. now) and suggesting that they are arguing 
against the anti-colonial struggles that preceded it. perhaps i am 
mis-reading you? 

REPONSE: Based on your defense of Hardt-Negri, I'd say that you have a
talent for mis-reading.




Louis Proyect
Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org



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